The impact of internet use on the hukou-based citizenization of rural populations: Mediating effect of the new gig economy

Hukou-based citizenship serves as a prerequisite for rural populations to obtain equal welfare benefits and public services. Using data from the 2021 Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS2021), this paper constructs a logit model to examine the impact of internet use on hukou-based citizenization among rural populations. The findings indicate that internet use significantly promotes hukou-based citizenization. Heterogeneity analysis reveals that this effect is stronger in the central and western regions, large cities, and ordinary counties, but not in Northeast China, megacities, or supercities. This variation is influenced by factors such as urban-rural development characteristics, regional and household registration policies, and patterns of population mobility. The household registration system remains a key barrier to farmers′ hukou access. Further empirical analysis based on a mediation model shows that internet use facilitates rural populations' participation in the new gig economy, which in turn promotes hukou-based citizenization. This effect is most pronounced in western China and ordinary counties. The mediation mechanism operates through economic, social, and psychological integration. However, the relatively small effect size and low significance suggest that the new gig economy has not substantially altered the spatial patterns of hukou-based citizenization among migrant workers. To enhance the process of hukou-based citizenization in the digital economy, it is crucial to increase internet penetration in rural areas, strengthen internet infrastructure, promote the development of the internet economy, and optimize the household registration system.